Why the Presence of People Hinders Urban Squirrels from Thinking Quickly? 0 55

A study by Finnish scientists has shown that the habits of city dwellers — walking, dog-walking, and playing in parks — reduce squirrels' ability to quickly and successfully obtain food from unusual sources.

In an experiment conducted in 15 parks in Oulu, researchers placed puzzles with hazelnuts that required squirrels to think outside the box and demonstrate agility. The results showed that in areas with high human presence, significantly fewer squirrels were able to solve the task, especially in places with playgrounds.

Noise and movement distract animals and mask danger signals, reducing their concentration. However, for some squirrels that acted faster, the presence of dogs, on the contrary, accelerated the process — possibly a reaction to the feeling of threat.

The study emphasizes that even familiar urban activities affect the cognitive abilities of wildlife. The authors urge consideration of this when planning urban spaces and tightening dog-walking regulations to reduce stress and help animals better adapt to the urban environment.